Exploring the consistency of the SF-6D

Objective: The six dimensional health state short form (SF-6D) was designed to be derived from the short-form 36 health survey (SF-36). The purpose of this research was to compare the SF-6D index values generated from the SF 36 (SF-6D(SF-36)) with those obtained from the SF-6D administered as an independent instrument (SF-6D(Ind)). The goal was to assess the consistency of respondents answers to these two methods of deriving the SF-6D. Methods: Data were obtained from a sample of the Portuguese population (n = 414). Agreement between the instruments was assessed on the basis of a descriptive system and their indexes. The analysis of the descriptive system was performed by using a global consistency index and an identically classified index. Agreement was also explored by using correlation coefficients. Parametric tests were used to identify differences between the indexes. Regression models were estimated to understand the relationship between them. Results: The SF-6D(Ind) generates higher values than does the SF-6D(SF-36), There were significant differences between the indexes across sociodemographic groups. There was a significant ceiling effect in the SF-6D(Ind) a but not in the SF-6D(SF-36). The correlation between the indexes was high but less than what was anticipated. The global consistency index identified the dimensions with larger differences. Considerable differences were found in two dimensions, possibly as a result of different item contexts. Further research is needed to fully understand the role of the different layouts and the length of the questionnaires in the respondents' answers. Conclusions: The results show that as the SF-6D was designed to derive utilities from the SF-36 it should be used in this way and not as an independent instrument.Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT

VLBI Observations of a Complete Sample of Radio Galaxies V. 3C346 and 4C31.04: two Unusual CSS Sources

We present observations at 1.7 and 8.4 GHz of two Compact Steep Spectrum (CSS) sources from a complete sample of low-intermediate power radio galaxies. 3C346 shows an asymmetric structure with a one-sided ``jet'' and ``hot spot''. Present observations suggest that the classification of this source as a CSS is inappropriate, and that it is a common radio galaxy at a small angle to the line of sight. Its properties are in agreement with the predictions of unified schemes models. 4C31.04 shows more complex structure with the possibility of a centrally located flat spectrum core in between two close lobes. We suggest that this source could be a low redshift Compact Symmetric Object.Comment: 15 pages, LATEX, uuenconde ps figures To be published in the Astrophysical Journal, October 20th issu

B2 1144+35: A Giant Low Power Radio Galaxy with Superluminal Motion

We report on centimeter VLA and VLBI observations of the giant, low power radio galaxy 1144+35. These observations are sensitive to structures on scales from less than 1 parsec to greater than 1 megaparsec. Diffuse steep spectrum lobes on the megaparsec scale are consistent with an age of $\sim$ 10$^8$ years. On the parsec scale, a complex jet component is seen to move away from the center of activity with an apparent velocity 2.7 h$^{-1}_{50}$ c. It shows a central spine -- shear layer morphology. A faint parsec scale counterjet is detected and an intrinsic jet velocity of 0.95 c and angle to the line of sight of 25$^\circ$ are derived, consistent with an intrinsically symmetric ejection. The central spine in the parsec scale jet is expected to move at a higher velocity and a Lorentz factor $\gamma$ $\sim$ 15 has been estimated near the core.The age of this inner VLBI structure is $\sim$ 300 years. Assuming a constant angle to the line-of-sight, the jet velocity is found to decrease from 0.95 c at 20 mas (32 pc on the plane of the sky) to 0.02 c at 15 arcsec (24 kpc on the plane of the sky). These findings lend credence to the claim that (1) even the jets of low power radio galaxies start out relativistic; and (2) these jets are decelerated to subrelativistic velocities by the time they reach kiloparsec scales.Comment: 21 pages, 16 separated figures. A version with figures and table in the text is available at: ftp://terra.bo.cnr.it/papers/journals - it is a ps gzipped file, named giovannini_apr99.gz (792kb) - ApJ in pres

Intranasal melanoma treated with radiation therapy in three dogs

Three dogs were investigated for chronic unilateral nasal discharge. In all cases CT imaging showed an intranasal mass causing turbinate lysis and no evidence of metastasis. Cytology in cases 1 (a 14-year-old neutered male crossbreed dog) and 2 (a five-year-old neutered male German Shepherd dog) demonstrated a pleomorphic cell population with variable intracellular pigment suspicious of melanocytic neoplasia. Histopathology with immunohistochemistry (Melan-A and vimentin, plus PNL-2 in one case) confirmed the diagnosis of melanoma in all dogs. All dogs were treated with megavoltage radiotherapy using linear accelerators. Cases 1 and 3 (a nine-year-old neutered female beagle dog) received a hypofractionated (4 × 8 Gy) protocol and case 2 received a definitive (12 × 4 Gy) protocol. Complete remission was demonstrated on repeat CT scan five months after diagnosis in case 1 and seven months in case 2. Stable disease was documented on CT at four months for case 3; however, clinical signs in this dog remained controlled for 10 months in total. Case 1 died of unrelated causes five months after diagnosis, case 2 was euthanased due to the development of seizures 13 months after diagnosis, and case 3 was lost to follow-up 12 months after diagnosis. Melanoma should be considered as a rare differential diagnosis for primary nasal neoplasia in the dog and radiation therapy can be used as effective local therapy

Vortex ratchet reversal: The role of interstitial vortices

Triangular arrays of Ni nanotriangles embedded in superconducting Nb films exhibit unexpected dynamical vortex effects. Collective pinning with a vortex lattice configuration different from the expected fundamental triangular "Abrikosov state" is found. The vortex motion which prevails against the triangular periodic potential is produced by channelling effects between triangles. Interstitial vortices coexisting with pinned vortices in this asymmetric potential, lead to ratchet reversal, i.e. a DC output voltage which changes sign with the amplitude of an applied alternating drive current. In this landscape, ratchet reversal is always observed at all magnetic fields (all numbers of vortices) and at different temperatures. The ratchet reversal is unambiguously connected to the presence of two locations for the vortices: interstitial and above the artificial pinning sites.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures, 1 Tabl

Local regularity for parabolic nonlocal operators

Weak solutions to parabolic integro-differential operators of order $\alpha \in (\alpha_0, 2)$ are studied. Local a priori estimates of H\"older norms and a weak Harnack inequality are proved. These results are robust with respect to $\alpha \nearrow 2$. In this sense, the presentation is an extension of Moser's result in 1971.Comment: 31 pages, 3 figure

Redesigning pictographs for patients with low health literacy and establishing preliminary steps for delivery via smart phones.

BackgroundPictographs (or pictograms) have been widely utilized to convey medication related messages and to address nonadherence among patients with low health literacy. Yet, patients do not always interpret the intended messages on commonly used pictographs correctly and there are questions how they may be delivered on mobile devices.ObjectiveOur objectives are to refine a set of pictographs to use as medication reminders and to establish preliminary steps for delivery via smart phones.MethodsCard sorting was used to identify existing pictographs that focus group members found "not easy" to understand. Participants then explored improvements to these pictographs while iterations were sketched in real-time by a graphic artist. Feedback was also solicited on how selected pictographs might be delivered via smart phones in a sequential reminder message. The study was conducted at a community learning center that provides literacy services to underserved populations in Seattle, WA. Participants aged 18 years and older who met the criteria for low health literacy using S-TOFHLA were recruited.ResultsAmong the 45 participants screened for health literacy, 29 were eligible and consented to participate. Across four focus group sessions, participants examined 91 commonly used pictographs, 20 of these were ultimately refined to improve comprehensibility using participatory design approaches. All participants in the fifth focus group owned and used cell phones and provided feedback on preferred sequencing of pictographs to represent medication messages.ConclusionLow literacy adults found a substantial number of common medication label pictographs difficult to understand. Participative design processes helped generate new pictographs, as well as feedback on the sequencing of messages on cell phones, that may be evaluated in future research